After several days of militarized police officers attacking protestors with tear gas, firing rubber bullets, and arresting members of the media, President Obama made a statement on the intensifying situation in Ferguson, Mo. following Mike Brown being shot and killed by a police officer on August 9.

During an afternoon press conference, the President’s made brief comments, focusing on the need for calm in these highly emotional times as well as providing some detail of the federal government’s involvement in the investigation of Mike Brown’s murder. In addition to stating that “this is a time for peace and reflection” he shared that he has instructed the Department of Justice and the FBI to independently investigate Brown’s death. He also says that he spoke with Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, and expressed confidence that Nixon would be able to take control of what has been a chaotic set of circumstances in his home state.

Finally, the President made it clear that the Ferguson police should not be arresting journalists who are out exercising their first amendment rights by documenting what’s happening on the ground or using force when unnecessary. Governor Nixon is scheduled to make a statement this afternoon at 3:00 p.m.

Read the abridged transcript of the speech, which begins after the President addressed the situation in Iraq.

“Now, second, I want to address something that’s been in the news over the last couple of days, and that’s the last situation in Ferguson, Missouri. I know that many Americans have been deeply disturbed by the images we’ve seen in the heartland of our country as police have clashed with people protesting, today I’d like us all to take a step back and think about how we’re going to be moving forward.

“This morning, I received a thorough update on the situation from Attorney General Eric Holder, who’s been following and been in communication with his team. I’ve already tasked the Department of Justice and the FBI to independently investigate the death of Michael Brown, along with local officials on the ground. The Department of Justice is also consulting with local authorities about ways that they can maintain public safety without restricting the right of peaceful protest and while avoiding unnecessary escalation. I made clear to the attorney general that we should do what is necessary to help determine exactly what happened and to see that justice is done.

“I also just spoke with Governor Jay Nixon of Missouri. I expressed my concern over the violent turn that events have taken on the ground, and underscored that now’s the time for all of us to reflect on what’s happened and to find a way to come together going forward. He is going to be traveling to Ferguson. He is a good man and a fine governor, and I’m confident that working together, he’s going to be able to communicate his desire to make sure that justice is done and his desire to make sure that public safety is maintained in an appropriate way.

“Of course, it’s important to remember how this started. We lost a young man, Michael Brown, in heartbreaking and tragic circumstances. He was 18 years old, and his family will never hold Michael in their arms again. And when something like this happens, the local authorities, including the police, have a responsibility to be open and transparent about how they are investigating that death and how they are protecting the people in their communities. There is never an excuse for violence against police or for those who would use this tragedy as a cover for vandalism or looting. There’s also no excuse for police to use excessive force against peaceful protests or to throw protesters in jail for lawfully exercising their First Amendment rights. And here in the United States of America, police should not be bullying or arresting journalists who are just trying to do their jobs and report to the American people on what they see on the ground.

“Put simply, we all need to hold ourselves to a high standard, particularly those of us in positions of authority. I know that emotions are raw right now in Ferguson and there are certainly passionate differences about what has happened. There are going to be different accounts of how this tragedy occurred. There are going to be differences in terms of what needs to happen going forward. That’s part of our democracy. But let’s remember that we’re all part of one American family. We are united in common values, and that includes belief in equality under the law, basic respect for public order and the right to peaceful public protest, a reverence for the dignity of every single man, woman and child among us, and the need for accountability when it comes to our government.

“So now is the time for healing. Now is the time for peace and calm on the streets of Ferguson. Now is the time for an open and transparent process to see that justice is done. And I’ve asked that the attorney general and the U.S. attorney on the scene continue to work with local officials to move that process forward. They will be reporting to me in the coming days about what’s being done to make sure that happens.

@Gee He can’t ignore what the police and local media are reporting. We can say they maybe fabricating stories to justify the force but he can’t speak freely the way we can. Not from behind that podium….

I’m hip. It is what it is at this point. I don’t think people really understand how fed up we are though. The restraint we’ve exercised continuously, in every instance. I’m tired. I cry for my people dog.

@Gee Same. I am tired of explaining and restraining and crying at my desk before anyone shows up. I stopped smoking a couple days ago. My girl has been on my ass about it. But part of me is tempted to walk outta this bitch and buy a pack.

What happens when even the most patient black people, the ones willing to sit down and hash it out, are too tired for all the talking?

@Gee The hypocrisy is what has me furious. Everyone has seen the KKK and other hate groups get the human barricade treatment. Police protect them from observers and any other threat to their freedom. Everyone fights for their free speech and right to assemble.

Black kids with smartphones…they get tanks, weapons and dogs biting at their heels.

Is skin color really that powerful that people will abandon their beliefs this quickly? If so, then the constitution really isn’t worth the paper it was written on…

I will go on record as saying that I am not a fan of POTUS. I respect his position (as I do all in his position – no matter the side – just the way I was raised)… but have been scratching my head for years now about many of the things he does (or should I say, does not do). So much power and it is never utilized in the proper way.

Some people love him and others won’t. That’s cool. But he has to help that young man’s family first and put everything else second. It won’t be popular but he doesn’t have many options.

If he is protecting the integrity of Brown’s ongoing investigation, so be it. If he makes a statement like you and me then he will be accused of interfering with a federal investigation most likely by the same critics that said he didn’t have an opinion fast enough on the matter.

I’m curious to know what things he could’ve done but didn’t. Off the top, the only things he could’ve done was not extend the bush era tax cuts and not continue the patriot act, but be real, there’s no way he was going to do that. He’s already being accused of pushing the limit of his powers with his executive orders anyhow.

There is a lot that POTUS (any POTUS) can do. They have power that people do not believe and cannot comprehend. It is simply their choice to use it. As far as the accusations of pushing the limit of his powers goes? All that I can say is that is coming from the other party in most instances and in others… he could have pushed them in better/more effective places. I witness too many examples of it on a nearly daily basis as my family runs our own foundation (which is not supported by outside money or any donations – we do not accept them).

I, unlike many others, never expected this man to be a “savior” for Black people. I voted for a candidate I believed in to better our country and by extension, our world. I do so on every level – no matter the political party a person represents. I have voted for them all. I do not vote party, I vote best candidate.

He fooled me once… and you know the rest of the saying. He did not get me this time around. As said, I will remain respectful… but I am certainly not a President Obama apologist.

What really bothered me about his speech was the false equivalency of it. Yeah, civilians need to not commit crimes and the police don’t need to be harassing people, militarizing, and stopping the press. But one of those things is happening to an insane degree, and the other is barely happening and is largely happening because of the former. You put people in a police state where there are no laws and rights and you can’t be surprised that they aren’t respecting the rights of others.

6 years later and mofos still upset that Barack Obama don’t do press conferences like Sam Jackson telling white folk for kiss his black ass.

Funny thing is folk I’ve been offline social media save for TSS for the better part of 3 months now. But when I see ish on TV or in offline convos about this, people seem more mad at Obama than at the Ferguson Mayor and Governor of Mo.

But from what I’ve seen—correct me if I’m wrong—the cops have done pretty much what they always do in situations like this: protect their own, assume blackfolk are lying and at fault somehow, and hope no one with clout pulls their card over this mess.